Moratorium on TRIPS?

Developing countries have pressed for a moratorium on dispute cases being brought by their richer trading partners against infringements of global intellectual property rules regarding the pharmaceutical industry.

The call was made at a meeting of the council for TRIPS (agreement on trade-related intellectual property rights), at the World Trade Organisation, following the US-Brazil deal over generic drug production.

Brazil and India took the lead, calling for a memorandum to be presented to the next WTO summit, in Qatar, in November, for approval by ministers. It would mention a 'moratorium' or developed countries exercising 'due restraint' when launching dispute cases involving access to medicines.

However, Developed countries, particularly the US, the EU and Switzerland, have opposed this and the issue will be debated again at a meeting this month.